Les Salopards

In 1993, Les Garagistes, an established group on the Ivory Coast's zouglou scene, broke up, but one of its members, Soum Bill, was determined to continue and develop the music. With Bloco and Collin (vocals) and Debengue, a former member of Les Garagistes, the four of them formed Les Salopards. After two years' work, the group's first album, Bouche B, was released in 1995. It was an immediate success, selling 200,000 cassettes and causing a sensation at the Festival Panafricain de Musique in Brazzaville. But it was in 1997 that Les Salopards reached the essence of their music and of zouglou. A musical style originating in Abidjan, zouglou is distinguished by its rhythmic setting of lyrics evoking the major social issues of the day. With Génération Sacrifiée (1997), the band fits perfectly into the genre. The songs are as disturbing as they are unifying, tackling the problems of Ivorian society head-on: "Politique Meurtrière", "Sans Papiers" or "Génération Sacrifiée ", which resonates with students. Buoyed by their success, the four members toured not only in Africa, but also in Europe, and achieved international renown. A third album, Pays Perdu, was released in 1999, but the group encountered organizational difficulties and disbanded. Some members, such as Soum Bill and Bloco, continued to make music, but on their own.

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